Legal fraternity slams smear campaign
Asks govt to take action against social media websites
Overruling the Judicial Commission of Pakistan, committee approved a one-year extension for two SHC additional judges. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
The legal community expressed concern over the malicious campaign against the Supreme Court judges on all types of media particularly social media for the past two weeks.
The lawyers have urged the federal government to take action against social media websites promoting the campaign.
They also demanded that the government give foolproof security to Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who authored the judicial commission’s report on the Quetta hospital carnage.
A well-planned campaign started to malign the top court judges on all forms of media after the last hearing of Panamagate case on December 9.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Rasheed A Rizvi while talking to The Express Tribune urged the government to take action against those involved in maligning the judges with ulterior motives.
“I am seeing a dangerous trend on social media that judges are being defamed, therefore, lawyers must play their role for the integrity of judiciary,” he stated.
Rizvi said that the SCBA is not against the freedom of speech but superior court judges should not be targeted, adding that if anyone has evidences against a judge they should file a complaint under Article 209 of the Constitution.
SCBA president has criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for using derogatory language against the Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon, who is active member of the Asma Jahangir group, has also expressed anger at political parties for making the judges controversial.
“I believe that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is behind the move to malign both incoming and outgoing chief justices”, he further stated.
Bhoon also criticised Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah for his ‘irresponsible statements’ against CJP Saqib Nisar.
He said that at least, opposition parties must give sometime to the incoming CJP before raising questions on his alleged partiality.
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry rejected the allegations that the party was involved in any sort of campaign against CJP-designate.
“I know Justice Saqib personally as he was my teacher and I believe that he is a very honest judge”, he said.
Fawad also said that PTI has full confidence on Justice Saqib as well as the other four judges hearing the Panamagate case.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2016.
The legal community expressed concern over the malicious campaign against the Supreme Court judges on all types of media particularly social media for the past two weeks.
The lawyers have urged the federal government to take action against social media websites promoting the campaign.
They also demanded that the government give foolproof security to Justice Qazi Faez Isa, who authored the judicial commission’s report on the Quetta hospital carnage.
A well-planned campaign started to malign the top court judges on all forms of media after the last hearing of Panamagate case on December 9.
Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Rasheed A Rizvi while talking to The Express Tribune urged the government to take action against those involved in maligning the judges with ulterior motives.
“I am seeing a dangerous trend on social media that judges are being defamed, therefore, lawyers must play their role for the integrity of judiciary,” he stated.
Rizvi said that the SCBA is not against the freedom of speech but superior court judges should not be targeted, adding that if anyone has evidences against a judge they should file a complaint under Article 209 of the Constitution.
SCBA president has criticised Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan for using derogatory language against the Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa.
Meanwhile, Pakistan Bar Council member Ahsan Bhoon, who is active member of the Asma Jahangir group, has also expressed anger at political parties for making the judges controversial.
“I believe that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf is behind the move to malign both incoming and outgoing chief justices”, he further stated.
Bhoon also criticised Opposition Leader Khursheed Shah for his ‘irresponsible statements’ against CJP Saqib Nisar.
He said that at least, opposition parties must give sometime to the incoming CJP before raising questions on his alleged partiality.
PTI spokesperson Fawad Chaudhry rejected the allegations that the party was involved in any sort of campaign against CJP-designate.
“I know Justice Saqib personally as he was my teacher and I believe that he is a very honest judge”, he said.
Fawad also said that PTI has full confidence on Justice Saqib as well as the other four judges hearing the Panamagate case.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 20th, 2016.